Idling Away Time With an Idlehour Trail Workout

Lofty ridges, dramatic canyons and a trail camp cradled in the peaceful woods are a few of the many attractions visited by Idlehour Trail, which offers the hiker a grand tour of the Front Range of the San Gabriel Mountains. For all but the most die-hard hikers, this is a one-way tour, an 11-mile descent from Eaton Saddle at the crest of the range to Eaton Canyon County Park near Altadena.

Naturalist John Muir called this country “rigidly inaccessible” after an 1877 exploration of Eaton Canyon. To get through the thorny chaparral, Muir was compelled to creep for miles on all fours.

Later a trail was built, but it was no walk in the park. Early hikers stepped gingerly up and down Eaton Canyon via a narrow trail across the wall of the gorge high above the canyon bottom. These days, the well-engineered Mt. Wilson Toll Road offers hikers a safe way around the precipitous lower canyon, while the fine Idlehour Trail traverses the canyon’s more mellow upper reaches.

Camp Idle Hour, a resort from 1915 to 1929, was a favorite of hikers who loved its location in the shade of oak, bay and spruce.

These days Idlehour Trail Camp, about midpoint of this ramble, invites hikers to idle away an hour or so in the same tranquil setting that pleased an earlier generation.

Directions to hike’s end point: From the Foothill Freeway (210) in Pasadena, exit on Altadena Drive. Proceed north 1.75 miles to the signed entrance of Eaton Canyon County Park. Turn right into the park and leave your car in the large lot near the nature center.

To start of hike: From the Foothill Freeway (210) in La Canada Flintridge, take Angeles Crest Highway (California 2) 14 miles north and east to Mt. Wilson Road. Turn right (south) and drive 2.4 miles to unsigned Eaton Saddle and a parking area.

The hike: From the parking area, head west on Mt. Lowe Fire Road. A half-mile’s hike from Eaton Saddle delivers you to Markham Saddle and a junction with two trails.

The fire road continues southwest and the right-forking trail climbs toward San Gabriel Peak, but you angle left onto Mt. Lowe Trail. Continue 0.75 mile and keep proceeding straight when a western branch of Mt. Lowe Trail intersects your route from the right. After another mile of walking, you’ll meet a fire road and head south. Pass by another fire road that leads to Mt. Lowe Trail Camp and soon reach the signed start of Idlehour Trail, about 2.5 miles from the trail head. The trail drops through stands of spruce and oak, climbs a short distance over a brushy divide, then resumes its descent into Eaton Canyon, about 4.75 miles from the beginning of this hike.

Idlehour Trail explores Eaton’s sylvan beauty under great oaks and maples near the sprightly creek and delivers you to Idlehour Trail Camp, with its picnic tables perched on an oak-shaded flat. From the camp, the trail heads 1.5 miles over a ridge to meet Mt. Wilson Toll Road.

After a bit more than a mile’s descent, you’ll pass Henninger Flats, home to great stands of conifers and the Los Angeles County Experimental Nursery. Southern California’s finest tree plantation welcomes hikers with shade, water and campgrounds. From the flats, 1.75 miles of descent brings you to signed Eaton Canyon Trail. Take the trail left and switchback 0.5 mile down to meet a wider Eaton Canyon Trail that follows Eaton Canyon wash. Head left and walk a last 0.5 mile to Eaton Canyon County Park.

For more John McKinney hikes, visit https://www.thetrailmaster.com.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Idlehour Trail

WHERE: Eaton Canyon, Angeles National Forest.

DISTANCE: 11 miles one way with 4,100-foot elevation loss.

TERRAIN: Rugged head, walls and bottom of Eaton Canyon.

HIGHLIGHTS: Variety of Front Range landscapes packed in one adventure.

DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY: Moderately strenuous.

PRECAUTIONS: Adventure Pass required for parking on Mt. Wilson Road.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Angeles National Forest, 701 N. Santa Anita Ave., Arcadia, CA 91006; tel. (626) 574-1613.